Milk-bottle protector.



A. T. STEVENSON.

MILK BOTTLE PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED APR-5, T915.

1,1 86,502. v Patented June 6, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' V 5 c I witnessed H/ M W "rm; COLUMBIA PLANbaliAPI-a co.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

A. T. STEVENSON. MILK BOTTLE PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED APR-5, 1915. x 7 1,186,502, Patented June 6,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- witmwoe/s THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

ALEXANDER T. STEVENSON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

MILK-BOTTLE PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application filed April 5, 1915. Serial No. 19,178.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER T. STEVEN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Milk- Bottle Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements 1n milk bottle protectors, and the main ob ect of my invention is the provision of a device for preventing the unlawful taking or stealing of the empty bottle orthe full bottle of milk delivered to the household.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a protector or look which will secure the empty bottle in position and WlllCh empty bottle can only be removed when the full bottle is inserted in the device, said insertion also looking the full bottle.

Anotherobject of my invention is the provision of a lock or protector which will absolutely prevent taking of the bottle of milk, which will be small and compact in size and which may be easily applied to the door casing or other convenient support.

Anothervobject of my invention isthe provision of a device which will receive and lock the empty bottle and which will receive and lock the full bottle, the said locking of the full bottle releasing the empty bottle, the device being simple and durable in construction, ornamental in appearance andfcapable of production at such a low price as to make its use desirable and necessary.

With these objects in view my invention consists of a device in the form of a cylindrical casing adapted to receive the neckv and mouth of the bottle and having meansto engage and lock said neck, said means being concealed by an outer casing.

The invention further consists of a bottle protector or look embodying novel features of construction and combination of parts substantially as shown, described. and particularly defined by the claims.

In order that the detailed construction and operation of my device may be fully understood and its advantages be fully appreciated I have shown in the accompanying drawings a milk bottle protector or look embodying my invention, it being understood that any changes may be made in the construction which come within the scope of the claims.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the device fastened to a suitable support, or in position for use, the outer casing being shown in section. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of the device taken at a right angle to the position shown in Fig. 1 and showing the look ing means in the position they assume when forced outward'by the neck and mouth of the bottle. Fig. 3 represents a central sectional view of the device showing how the lockingmeans are forced outward by engagement with the mouth of the bottles, and Fig. 4 represents atop plan view of the device. Referring by letter to the drawings in which Similar letters denote corresponding parts in all the views of the drawings, the letter A designates a suitable support which is preferably the frame work or door casing, B designates angle brackets secured to said support, and C designates an open or tubular casing forming the body or main portion of my device, and provided with the protecting casing G.

The tubular body portion is open through out and about the size to admit the mouth D, of the bottle E, such as is common for containing milk or cream, and the body is provided preferably with the four sets of vertically disposed slots or openings F, and with the four series of double flat spring plates G, which have their outer ends H, rigidly secured to the body portion, and their inner free ends J, loosely hinged to permit the springs to move outward as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. when the neck of the bottle engages thelocking lugs or keepers K, carried in pairs by each set of double spring plates Gr, said lugs moving in and out an guided by slots F. From this construction it will be apparent that the tubularbody portion provides a receiver in which is inserted the neck ofthe full or empty bottle, and that said neck of the full bottle engages and forces the locking lugs outward releasing the mouth of the empty bottle, permitting its removal and simultaneously locking the mouth of the full bottle and to insure the proper operation of the locking lugs. or keepers I attach to the outer face of two of the springs, thecurved plates L, formed at their ends with openings L, and to two of the other spring members the pair of shorter curved plates M, provided with pins M for engaging the openings L of said plates L, thus locking said se ed Pl t and at the sam me ret inin ance to the device.

the springs with their locking lugs in proper position.

From the foregoing description the operation of my device will be readily understood, and it will be apparent that the empty bottle is inserted in the receiver mouth down-. ward, which mouth portion forces the looking lugs outward until the mouth portion passes the upper set of lugs and as soon as passed the mouth portion is secured between the locking lugs, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 locking the empty bottle in the receiver. The mouth of the full bottle is inserted in the lower portion of the receiver forcing the locking lugs from engagement with the mouth of the empty bottle allowing the removal of said empty bottle, and upon its removal the said locking lugs instantly are sprung inward and engage the mouth of the full bottle.

It will be noted by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 that two sets of the locking lugs K, are shorter than the other sets of locking lugs K, the purpose of which is to cause one set of lugs to open in advance or to a greater extent than the other set which insures the proper entrance and removal of the bottles and the proper locking of said bottles by the action of insertion and removal. The longer locking lugs K, secured to the flat spring plates G carrying the shorter curved plates M, are first engaged by the bottle and lifted sufficiently to allow the pins lVl to clear the openings L before coming into engagement with the shorter lugs K, thus unlocking the plates L. Then when the bottle has been pushed past the lugs K and K, they will spring in and the curved plates M will again lock the plates L by reason of the pins M entering the opening L, thus locking the lugs K. It will also be noted that the locking mechanism is entirely concealed and protected by the outer covering, which gives an attractive exterior appear- This covering and receiver may be of any shape and may be made of any desired material and it might be desirable to make the endsof the receiver flaring instead of straight.

From the description and drawings the advantages of my invention will be readily understood and it will be at once apparent that I providea simple, inexpensive and practical device which can only be operated by the proper person and which will prevent the stealing of the empty bottle or the full bottle of milk or cream from households and which will present an attractive and ornamental appearance.

I claim:

1. A. look or protector of the character described, consisting of an open ended receiver to permit the insertion of the mouth of an empty bottle and a full bottle, and locking means engaging the mouth portion of either of said bottles to secure the empty or full bottle in the receiver, said locking means consisting of a pair of curved plates and a pair of shorter curved plates having lugs to engage the mouth of the bottle.

2. A lock or protector of the character described, consisting of an open ended receiver to permit the insertion of the mouth of an empty bottle and a full bottle, and locking means engaging the mouth portion of either of said bottles to secure the empty or full bottle in the receiver, said locking means consisting of a series of spring plates having lugs to engage the mouth of the bottle, and means for retaining the spring plates and lugs in locked position, said means consisting of a pair of curved plates and a pair of shorter curved plates, openings in said curved plates and pins secured on said shorter curved plates to engage the said openings.

3. A lock or protector of the character described, consistingof an open ended receiver to permit the insertion of the mouth of an empty bottle and a full bottle, and locking means operated by said insertion to lock the empty or full bottle in the receiver, said means consisting of a pair of curved plates and a pair of shorter curved plates, openings in said curved plates and pins secured on said shorter curved plates to engage the said openings, said means being protected and concealed by an outer casing.

4. A look or protector of the character described, consisting of an open endedreceiver to permit the insertion of the mouth of an empty bottle and a full bottle, and locking means mounted in said receiver and acting to release one bottle and lock the inserted bottle, said locking means consisting of a pair of lugs carried by a pair of flat springs carrying curved plates and a pair of longer lugs carried by a pair of flat springs carrying a pair of shorter curved plates, said shorter curved plates carrying pins to engage openings in said curved plates.

5. A lock or protector of the character described, consisting of an open ended receiver to permit the insertion of the mouth of an empty bottle and a full bottle and locking means consisting of a series of pairs of lugs operated by said insertion to engage the flange around the mouth of the bottle to lock the empty or full bottle in the receiver, said means being protected and con cealed by an outer casing.

65. A look or protector of the character described, consisting of an open ended vreceiver to permit the insertion of the mouth of an empty bottle and a full bottle and locking means mounted in said receiver and acting to release one bottle and lock the inserted bottle, said means consisting of a series of palrs of spring actuated locking lugs adapted to engage the flange around the from the flanged mouth of the empty bottle mouth of the bottle. to release said empty bottle and lock the full 7. A protector for milk'bottles, consisting bottle.

of an open ended container to receive the In testimony whereof I affix my signature 5 ganged JIFIIOIIiiII; of an emptfy bottle and a full in presence of two Witnesses.

ottle 0 mi a series 0 lugs arranged in pairs to engage the flanged mouth of the ALEXANDER STEVENSON bottle, and connections between the pairs of Witnesses:

lugs whereby the insertion of the flanged L. M. LEPPER,

10 month of the full bottle releases the lugs MAUD WEST.

Copies of this patent may be obtained tor the cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

